San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-25

he asks me, shat not doly the truth,
you may lie sure"
: "Sibylr-Amar7 uth's calm face grew
perplexed-"what have you TO gain by
such wilful behaviurI viii nothing move
youT"
did anything move you five years
agoi" Sibyl demanded flOstiiy. IL warned
you. you rememberl Now. you must all
take the consequences of your worldli-
ness and cruelty. Heaven knows have
suffered for them long enoughT
Mrs. Carruthers made helpless ges-
tnre with her hands.
at is all beyond my comprehension
she declared, shedding a few tears-a
rare occurrence indeed with her. 81 can
say that l am glad that have never
been in love-if love can lead a woman to
be false and heartless to her husband and
her child"
Sibyl WINGED.
leave my child ont of the question:
she said haughtily.
II wish l could" Amaranth returned,
drying her eyes. alt is she who will suf-
fer the most, poor little thingl However.
/ feel that it is worse than useless to ar
que with you Sibyl. can only warn you
that the Countess will probably come
down to see Mr.. Breton. l really must
go back to the children. 1 have tres
passed far too long on Lady Milwood's
kindness, and l am doing no good what
ever by staying here"
"No good whatever" echoed Sibyl, with
her icy smile.
A few days later, and Just as she was
putting on her furs and her hat to 60 and
meet Percival in the park, the Countess's
carriage drove up to the door.
Mark was out as usual, making work
for himself. But in few minutes Mrs.
Breton came down stairs and into the
drawing-room to receive her grandmoth-
er.
The old woman looked bent and feeble ]
she was supporting herself with tor
toiseshell stick, which trembled under her
wrinkled hands.
"Sibyl," she said, without a word Of
greeting or of preface, "you have my
blood in your veins. l will not believe
what l have heard from Amaranth Ca
ruthers, unless you yourself tell me it is
true"
"If you mean about Percival," Sibyl
answered coldly, sit is quite true.
have met him every day since he left this
house."
The Countess looked at her aghast.
"May ask why n she demanded in her
quavering old voice. her eyes still fixed on
the impassive face before her.
because he has asked me to meet him."
was Sibyl's answer.
A sudden fame of anger shot into the
grandmother's eyes.
"What right had he to ask or you to
promise such thingl" she cried fiercely,
beating her stick upon the floor.
THAT your ladyship can answer for
yourself"
There was dead silence that lasted for
some minutes. Sibyl stood in her long
dark gown like figure carved out Of eb-
ony.
81 did not believe itr cried the old wo-
man, lifting her two hands in horror. ~
could not believe that any one belonging
to me could be so lost to all sense Of wo-
manly prider"
Sibyrs lips curled.
at is just five years, your ladyship
since l became So"
"Five yearsf"
ayes; it is FIVE years since you sold me
to Mr.. Breton. 1 dare say it does not
seem so long to you"
"Sold you'll" the Countess echoed, quail
ing beneath sibyrs steadfast and earnest
gaze.
The girl made her a grave bow.
"Sold me, your ladyship. 1t does not
sound nice know; but there are worse
things about such bargains than the
sound"
Again there was pause.
ave acted for the BEST" said the trem-
bling old voice then; and therewas ring
in ia ring Of most unwonted pathos.-
"Sibyl, remember how much depended
on it."
~ do remember. Why will not you re.
member as well as do, and leave me tc
go my own way unmolested7 What do
you hope"-wearily-"tog gain by this per-
petual interference"
Interference" the Countess echoed in
amazement. DO you suppose we are all
going to stand by and see you rushing
headlong to destruction without putting
out hand TO save youi"
Sibyl was silent.
slave you no respect for your familyi"
persisted the other, trembling with excite
ment.
"Nol 1t is my family who have made
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS amr'
"For your childf"
any childH" There was break at last
in sibyrs hard voice, try as she would to
master it. "You have made even my
child a thought of shame to me. She is
nothing to me but the personifcation of
my falsehood and"-the hot blood rushed
to Mrs. Bretton's marble-pale face-"my
humiliation"
The Countess heard her in incredulous
dismay.
"For your husband then'f" she cried in
dignantly. "No woman ever had kind
er or a better one, Heaven knows"
"My husbandf" Sibyl's cold lips curled
with a smile of cruel contempt. "Your
ladyship does well to urge Mr.. Bretton's
claim on my respect"
"What has he done"-the old voice
shook again-"to forfeit your respectf"
HE married me-"
sand 1 should think"-a wrathful fame